Article-folding machine



Oct. 15, 1929. 5. J. CAMPBELL ARTICLE FOLDING MACHINE 9 Sheets-sheaf 1 Filed March 14, 1928 e P m c U w m 5 O 1929- 5. J. CAMPBELL 9 ARTICLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1928 9 Shets-Sheet 2 fianzueZJ 45106214 11/4 zn E56 5. J. CAMPBELL ARTICLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed mm 14, 1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 15, 1929. s; .1. CAMPBELL 1,731,292

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s. .1. CAMPBELL ARTICLE FOLDING- MACHINE Filed March 14,-1928 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 s. J. CAMPBTELL 1,731,292

ARTICLE FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1928 Oct. 15, 1929.

9 Sheets-Sheet 8 I Zzz dn z or [Z/Zf amua/Lfc2nzPe/Z 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Oct. 15, 1929. s. J. CAMPBELL ARTICLE FOLDINQ MACHINE Filed 'March' 14, 1928 Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED, STATES PATE'NT' OFFICE SAMUEL J. CAMPBELL, or GREEN nnx wrsoonsm, AssIGnOR TO HUDSON-SHARP MA- CHINE COMPANY, OF GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN ARTICLE-FOLDING MACHINE This invention relates to improvemeuts'in article folding machines. 1

One object of the lnvention is to provide a highly eflicient machine for accurately folding articles made of paper or other sheet materal in a plurality of folds, the 'machine being especially designed to produce folded for folding sheet materal', the machine being adjustable so as to produce finished articles comprising varying numbers of plies, wherein the machine is adjustable to produce either twelveor sixteen-ply folded articles.

. Affurther object of the invention is to providean organized machine for folding a strip of material, cutting off sections from the foldedstrip and further folding the cut-off sections to produce folded articles comprising a plurality of plies. Still another object'of the invention is to rovide a machine for cutting a plurality of paper articles from strips of material and for folding a plurality of paper articles thus cut, wherein a single cutting device operates to simultaneously cut a plurality of such articles and a plurality of folding devices are employed to'fold the cut articles, wherein 0 each folding device operates on a plurality of such articles simultaneously.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character indicated, the mechanism of which is adjustable to produce articles of varying sizes.

Other and furtherobjects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description an d claims hereinafter following.

'In the drawings, forming a part-Of this View of a machineembodying myimprovements, certain parts being omitted for the sake of elea-rness. Figure 2 is a rearelevational viewof the machine illustrated in Figure.1-. Figure-.3 is a-topplan view. thereof.

,Figures' t and 5 are side elevational views ofv the machine illustrated in Figure .1, Figure 4 being a view looking from the left in Figure 1, and Figure 5 being a view looking from the right in said figure. Figure 6 is a verspecification,Fignrefl' is a front elevationahthe frame sections being provided with tical, longitudinal, sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 66 of Figure 1. Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are enlarged vertical sectional views of the cutting, folding and packing mechanism illustrated in Figure 6, said figures showing the different positions of the parts of the mechanism in cutting and folding a paper article comprising twelve plies. Figures 11, 12, 13,- 14 and 15 illustrate the different stages in the folding operations of my improved machine when the same is adjusted, as indicated in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10, to fold a napkin or other paper article so as to provide twelve plies. Figures 16 and 17 show paper articles as folded by the last two folding mechanisms of my machine when adj usted to form sixteen-ply articles. Figure 18 is a plan view of the first folding or tucking blade employed in connection with my improved machine. And Figures 19 and 20 are detailed plan views of two sheets ofmaterialfolded by my improved machine, Figure 19 illustrating in dotted lines the lines along which the folds are made to produce the article illustrated in Figure 15, and Figure 20 showing in dotted lines the lines along which the folds are made to produce the articles shown in Figure 17.

In said drawings, 30-30 designate a pair 30 of side members of the frame of my improved machine. The side members are connected b transverse top and bottom sets of tie mem ers 31 and 32. The ;.tie members 31 and 32 are preferably arranged in pairs adjacent the top and bottom of the frame members 30. At the upper ends, the side frame members 30 are connected by horizontally disposed frame "sections 33-33,

lateral extensions 3434 projecting outwardly beyond the opposite sides ofthe machine. The" sections 34: are preferably formed integral with thehorizontal section" 33, and the horizontal section 33 is rigidly 'secured'to theupper ends of the side frame members 30 in any suitable manner. As most clearly shown in Figure 3, the lateral r extensions 34 comprise two sets of spaced arms having means at the outer ends thereof for producing two additional folds in the thus far folded material; and means for stacking the articles formed.

- In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, as'shown in Figures 1 to 10, inclusive, the operating mechanism is of the double type,

and is so arranged that the same will produce folded articles comprising twelve plies, the article as finally produced being of the 2- fold type. The arrangement is such, that two strips of material are operated upon simultaneously, both strips being doubled and the doubled strips being severed simultaneously to produce cut-off sections which are finally folded into finished form. As disclosed, the strips of material are fedto the various operating means of the machine from the two rolls disposed at opposite sides ofthe frame.

The rolls 35, as most clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, are supported in suitable bearings 36 at the outer ends of the arms 34. The supporting means for the rolls 35 is of wellknown form and includes the usual means for adjusting the front set of bearings 36 laterally to properly position the rollsof material. As is common, the rear bearing members 36 are formed integral with the arms 34 of the frame of the machine, and clamping means, indicated by 37, is employed in conjunction with the front bearing members 36 tosretain the rolls of material in position. As shown, eachv clamping means comprises the usual 1 pivoted arm and'cooperating locking bolt and nut. A (pair of' transversely disposed rolls 38 38 are disposed at the top of the machine frame, each of therolls being provided with a shaft 39 fixedthereto and rotatably mounted in bearing members on the transverse bracing section 33 As most clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the feed rolls 38 are dis".

posed closely adjacent the opposite frame members 30. Below the rolls 38 are arranged of the frame.

two triangular fixed folding plates 40-40,

which are inclined downwardly and converge sponding folding plate 40. The plates 40 constitute the means for folding or doubling the strip of material longitudinally.

My improved machine is particularly adapted for folding paper napkins, the same being preferably formed of relatively light material, such as tissue paper. It will be evident that in handling material of this nature, extreme care must be exercised in order to prevent tearing of the same, and the feeding mechanism of my machine is particularly arranged with this object in view. The paper strips are conveyed from thefolding blades 40 by the feed rolls 4141, most clearly shown in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive. The feed rolls 41 are carried by shafts 42-42 mounted in bearing blocks 4343 disposed at opposite sides of the machine and secured to the frame sections 30 in any suitable manner, the same being shown as, bolted thereto. The righthand shaft 42, as shown in Figure 5, carries a driving gear 44 on the outer end thereof, meshing with a gear 45 carried by a shaft 46 mounted below the rolls 4141 and having its opposite ends journalled in the frame sections 30. The shaft 46- is preferably the driven shaft of the machine and may receive its motion by any suitable means, such as a power pulley secured to one end thereof. Two shafts 47 and 48 are mounted on opposite sides of the shaft 46 and extend parallel thereto, the opposite ends of the shafts 47 and 48 being journalled in the side frame sections 30 and projecting beyond the same. As most clearly shown in Figure 4, each of the shafts 47 and 48 carries a gear 49 at one end thereof, meshing with a gear 450 on the shaft '46. It' will thus be evident that the shafts 42, 47 and 48 are all driven through the shaft 46 by means of the driv' g gears 45 and 450. It will be evident that t e feed roller 41 at the right-hand side of Figure 5, is in this instance the driven roll, and that the other feed is gripped between the two feed rolls 41 and isdrawn over the folding plates 40 so as to' produce a folded strip from each of the strips fed from the rolls 35. As \will beobvious,

these two folded strips are conveyed, side by side, between the rolls 41.

The'folded strips of material are carried from the feed rolls '41 to a pair-of cutting rolls 50. .and 51, the cutting roll 50 beingmounted on the shaft 48, and the cutting roll 51 being mounted on the'shaft 46. The cutting rolls 50 and 51 are fixed to the respective shafts to rotate with the same, and, as will be evident, areboth' positively driven through the'medium of-the intermeshing gears 450 and 49, Both of the cutting rollers 50 and 51 are of such a width that the two folded ment is such that 65kthe link 60 by a sheets of material will be fed between the same, side by side. The cutting roller 50-is provided with a fixed cutting blade 52, which feed rollers 41-41, together with the foldingplates 40, is substantially the same as that illustrated and described in my Patent No. 1,666,086, dated April 17, 1928- The arrangedifferent sizes of gears may A be substituted for the gears 44 and 45. of the driving mechanism, so that the relative rate of rotation of the feed rollers 41, with respect to the cuttingrollers 50 and 51, may be varied so that the cutting rollers will out different sizes of articles from the folded strips. In this connetcion, it 'is pointed out that the cutting rollers 50 and 51 are spaced apart slightly, so that the same" may slip with respect to the material being fed between them, with the result that the rate of feed of the material fed by the rollers 41 is not affected. Itwill be clear that when the rate of feed of the rollers 41 is slowed up with respect to the cutting rollers, smaller articles will be cut from the folded strips, and that when the rate of feed of the rollers 41 is increased with respect to the rate of movement of the cutting rollers articles of larger size will be produced. After the two strips of folded material have been severed into separate sections, the same are fed to the folding mechanism hereinafter described in detail. a

The folding mechanismof my improved machine includes a pluralityof pivoted folding blades operating successively on the material, three such folding blades being illustrated in "the present form of the invention,

the same being designated by 55, 56 and 57,.

45 respectively. The folding blade is the first folding fold the cut-off sections midway between their ends. The folding blade 55 is mounted on and fixed toanoscillating shaft 58, which 50 has its opposite ends journalled in the-side frames 30 of the machine, The shaft 58 is oscillated through the pitman 59 and the connecting link 60, the pitman being pivoted to pin 61 and having the opposite end thereof journalled on a'crank pin 62 fixed to an adjustable crank arm bracket 63' secured to. a disc 64 mounted on the shaft 48 and rotatable therewith. As clearly shown in Figure 4, the adjustable crank arm 63 is 69 provided with a 'slofiadapted to receive an adjusting bolt65 by which the crank arm is clamped to the disc 64. The disc 64 is provided with a plurality of openings 66 to receive the bolt 65. As will be evident by the 65 adjusting means described, the crank arm,

terial as they come from the cutting blade to. operate and serves to together with the pin 62, may be adjustedto any'desired angle with respect to the operating shaft 48,"thereby 'clianging the operating position of the folding'blade 56. An adjustable connection is also provided between the shaft 58 and the link 60, the same comprising I a disc member fixed to the shaft, and a second disc member 67 formed integral with the link 60 and having arcuate slots 68 therein, receiving clampingv bolts 69 which are fixed within threaded openings in the disc secured. I,

to the shaft 58.

To properly guide the folded sheets of marolls 50 and 51, and position the same in front of the folding blade 56, I preferably provide guide means for accurately guiding the folded strips in a vertical direction. The guide means comprises a plurality;of spaced belts 70 and 71, between which thematerial is fed,

and guidei rollers 72 co-operating with the belts 7 0. The guide rollers 7 2 are journalled on a shaft which has its opposite ends 'journalled in the side frame sections 30 of the machine, and' carry a driving gear 73 at one end thereof, as shown in Figure 4, meshing with the gear 450 and driven therefrom. The gear 73 meshes with an idler gear 74 mounted on the frame sections 30, as shown in Figure 4, and meshing with a driven gear 75 mounted on a shaft extending transversely through the side frame sections 30 of the machine and carrying feed'rollers or pulleys 76 over which the upper sections of the belts 30 are trained. The lower sections of the feed belts 70 are trained over'guide pulleys 77 mounted on a shaft 78 journalled in the side frame sections of the machine, the shaft 78 at one end carrying a gear Figure 5, meshing with a gear 80 fixed to a shaft 81 which carries guide pulleys 82 over which the lower sections of the feed belts 71- are trained, The upper. sections of the feed belts 71 are trained over loose guide pulleys 83 mounted on a suitable shaft fixed in the side frame members 30 of the machine. As will be evident, the feed belts 70 and 71, and the feed rolls 72, are all positively operated so that the folded articles will be fed properly and accurately in position to be operated upon by the folding blade 55. The folding blade 55'is of sucha width as to operate ,on two folded cut-off sections of the sheet.material simultaneously, and, as most clearly 'shown in the plan view in Figure 18, is slotted, as indicated at'84-'84, to accommodate 79, as. shown inthe feed belts 70. The folding blade,55 cooperates with a folding guide formed of upper and lower spaced guide members 85 and 86. The guide member 85 is in the form of an angular plate member extending entirely acrossthe machine and suitably secured t6 the opposite side frame members thereof. The lower guide 86 is in the form of a flat plate, also secured to the side frame members.

The two guide members 85 and 86 are spaced apart such a distance as to accommodate the sheet material therebetween when folded in quarter folds. Immediately adjacent the guide members 85 and 86, two feed rolls 87 and 88 are. provided. The feed rolls 87 and 88 are fixed to transverse shafts 89 and 90, j ournalled in the side frame members 30 and projecting therebeyond. The shaft-89, which is uppermost, is provided with a driving gear 91 at one end thereof, as clearly shownin Figure 4. The gear 91 meshes with an'idler gear 92 journalled on the frame section 30, and the idler gear 92 meshes with the driving gear 450. It will be evident that the feed rolls 87 are thus positively driven from the main drive shaft 46, through the gearing described. The gear 91 also meshes with a gear 93 mounted on the outer end' of the shaft 90, as clearly shownin Figure 4. R0- tation is thus positively edected of the rolls 88. The upper feed-rolls 87 are preferably grooved to receive a plurality of feed belts 94 for positively feeding and guiding the folded paper articles to the second folding blade 56.

The articles which have been cut from the strips of material and are double-folded, are folded midway between their ends by the folding blade 55, and forced between the guides 85 and 86 and into engagement with. the feed rollers 87 and 88, and are thus quarter-folded. From the feed rollers 87 and 88, the folded articles are guided by the belts 94 between the rollers 88. and additional feed rollers 95, around which the feed belts 94 pass. The rollers 95 are mounted on a transverse shaft 96, on which the same is loosely rotatable. The rollers 95 are grooved to receive the feed belts 94 and from the rollers 95" the feed belts 94 extend in a horizontal direction and are'guided over grooved feed rollers 97 freely rotatable on a shaft 98 fixed to the sideframe members of the. machine.

The second'folding blade 56 is of similar design to the folding blade 55, and operates I in a similar manner. The same is mounted nected to an adjustable crank arm 63 mounted on the disc 64, which are in all respects similar tothe crank arm 63 and disc 64 hereinbefore described. The disc 64, which serves as a drivwith the folding blade 55. The-adjustment of the parts,.as s own in Figures 1 to 10, inclusive, as hereinbefore pointed out, 1s such that a twelve-ply folded, article will be formed. The feeding arrangement of thefeed rolls 87 and 88 is therefore so timed that the responding to one-third of the height of the article. The folding blade 56 co-operates with folding guide means in the form ofspaced top and bottom guide plates 1.02 and 103. The guides 102 and 103 are spaced apart such a distance that the blade will enter between the same and properly fold the article. As shown, the folding guides 102 and 103 are in the form of angular'plates and have their opposite ends secured to the side frame members 30 of the machine. The angular portions of the guides extend vertically and constitute means for holding the paper in a vertical plane when the same is fed from between the rolls 88 and 95.

. Immediately below the guide roller 95 is mounted a second guide roller 103, which is fixed to a shaft 104 journalled in the side frame members of the machine. The shaft 104 carries a sprocket wheel 105 on one end thereof, as most clearly shown in Figure 5, the sprocket wheel 105 ,being driven by a sprocket chain 106, which is in turn driven by a sprocket. wheel 107 fixed to the driving shaft 46. The feed rolls 114 are thus positively driven directly from the main drive shaft 46. As most clearly shown in Figure 6, the feed rolls 114 are spaced slightly from the feed rolls 95, so that the folded articles may pass therebetween and be compressed. The folding blade 56, which, as hereinbefore pointed out, folds overthe lower one-third portion of the articles, forces the articles thus folded between the guides 102 and 103 and between the rolls 95 and 114, so that the articles will be folded and compressed between these rollers and fed forward thereby to the third folding blade 57.

In order to properly guide the article into position to be folded by the blade 57, a lower guide plate 108 is provided, which is disposed parallel to the lower runs of the feed belts 94'.

This guide, as shown, is in the form of a relatively wide plate, having its opposite ends secured to the side frame members of the machine. The front end of the guide plate 108;- is bent downwardly and co-operates with feed rollers 109 disposed beside the rollers 114. The plate 108 and the lower runs of the belts 94 are spaced apart such a distance as to accommodate the folded article therebetween.

.A gage member in the form of an angle bar 110 may be provided if desired, to limit the movement of the article being fed by the rollers 95 and 114. This gage is preferably adjustable along the plate 108, so as to co-operate with articles which are folded either in twelve-ply or sixteen-ply form. -The feed rollers 109 are fixed to a shaft 111 having a v in Figure 4. The pitman 117, which is pivot-.

. 'rality of arms gear 112'at one end thereof, as most clearly shown in Figure 4, and meshing with a gear 113 mounted on the shaft 104 which carries the rollers 114.- Inasmuch as the shaft 104 is driven through means of a sprocket chain 106 from the driven shaft 46, the feed rolls 109 are positively driven in timed relation with the feed rolls 114. A second guide 115 co-operates with the guide plate 108 and is disposed adjacent the rollers 114. This guide also has the opposite ends thereof secured to the side frame members of the machine.

The folding blade 57, which operates on the articles after they have been folded by the blade 56, is swingingly mounted on a shaft .116 journalled in the side frame members of the machine and operated bya pitman 117 and a connecting link 118. The link 118 is adjustably shaft being provided with a disc fixed thereto, as most clearly shown in Figure 5, and the connecting link having a co-operating disc thereon which is slotted and receives a pair of clamping bolts. The parts just'described are similar to the adjustable connections shown for the link 60 and the shaft 58, shown ally connected to'the link 118, is driven through a crank connection adjustably secured to the shaft 47. The crank connection comprises a crank member 63 carrying a crank pin 62 mounted on a disc 64 provided with-bolt-receiving openings similar in all respects to the corresponding parts vwhich cooperate with the pitman 59, as illustrated in Figure 4. As will be evident, the folding blade 57 is thus given an oscillating motion in timed relation with the other folding blades of the machine; In the adjustment of the machine as shown in Figures 1 to 10, inclusive, the article, after being folded by the blade 56, is fed below the folding blade 57 in such a position that the blade will engage the article transversely at a point midway between the opposite ends of the folded article, thus producing a one-third fold and folding the articleinto Z-shape. In the folding operation last described, the articles are forced between the co-operating guides 108 and 115, and between the rolls 109 and 114. After leaving the folding mechanism just described, the articles are preferably guided vertically to a position in front of packing mechanism which stacks the same; f

- The packing mechanism comprises a plu- 110, which are spaced apart the proper distance, as most clearly shown in Figure 1,,and are adjustably mounted on an- .oscillating shaft 120 which is journalled in the side frame members of the machine.

The shaft 120 is oscillated by means of a pitman 121 and a connecting link 122. The pitman and connecting link are pivotally joined and the connecting link carries a disc at the other end thereof, indicated by 67, and is in all connected to the shaft 116, the

respects similar to the disc 67, hereinbefore described in connection with the pitman 59 and the connecting link 60. As shown, the

disc 67 is adjustably connected to the shaft xplounted 120 by clamping bolts adjustably in slots of the disc 67 and secured to corresponding disc fixed to the shaft 120. The

{upper end of the pitman 122 is connected to a [crank pin mounted on the adjustable crank :arm 63, which is in all respects similar to the "crank arm 63 hereinbefore described in connection with the'pitman 59, the crank arm 63 being provided with a slot through which a clamping bolt extends, the clamping bolt co-operating with screw-threaded openings in a disc 64, which is similar to the disc 64' hereinbefore described, and is fixed to the shaft 47 It will be evident that through the connecting mechanism described, the packarms will be given an oscillating motion. In order to dispose the articles in proper vertical position in front of the oscillating packing arms 119, cooperating feed belts 123 and 124 are provided. The feed belts 123 enbelts The lower sections of the belts 123 and 124 are trained over loose feed pulleys 125 and 126 mounted on brackets 127, as most clearly shown in Figures 1,6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. As disclosed, the adjacent runs of the feed belts 123 and 124'are spaced apart a proper dis v tance to accommodate the folded articles' 'therebeteween. The packing arms 119 are preferably four in ranged in pairs, each pair co-operating with I number, as shown, ar

one of the folded articles. Four of the brackets 127 are also provided, each bracket carrying a set ofthe idler pulleys 125 and 126,

*which co-operate with the corresponding feed belts 123-and 124. The brackets 127 are mounted loosely on the transverse shaft 100, so that the shaft 100 may oscillate freely with respect to the brackets. The four brackets 127 have outwardly extending arms 128 which are secured to the lower side of a feed table 129. The free end of the feed table 129 is supported in any suitable manner, and, as herein shown, is provided with supporting legs 130. As most clearly shown in Figure 3, the feed table is divided into two compartments by a central partition wall 131. The side walls of the two compartments, wgllich are indicated by 132-132, are prefera 3 toward the partition wall 131, so asto ,accommodate the guideways or compartments to folded napkinsof different sizes. The adjusting means may be of any well-known kind, and, as herein shown, provides clamping bolts which co-operate with transverse slots in the table 129. Inasmuch as the arms 128 of the brackets 127 are secured to the table 129, rotation or oscillation of the arms with the shaft 100 is'positively prevented.

age over the feed rollers 114, and the feed" 124 engage over the feed rollers 109.

adj'ustably mounted laterally inwardly between the feed rolls 72 and7 6 in front. of

just the corresponding brackets 127 and the feed rollers or pulleys carried thereby. Connecting means is also preferably provided between the brackets 127 and the oscillating packer arms 119, so that the outer two arms of the two pairs may be adjusted laterally inwardly toward the remaining two arms when the brackets are adjusted. It will be seen that by this arrangement the guideways or compartments of the table 129, the feed belts 123 and 124, and the packer arms 119, may be adjusted to properly co-operate with folded napkins of various sizes. The oscillating packer arms 119 push the articles from between the belts 123 and 124 into the compartments of the table 129. Any suitable means may beprovided for maintaining the articles in stacked relation onthe table. As shown, a pair of weighted members 133 are provided, which engage on the outermost articles of each stack, the weighted members 133 having fiat vertical inner faces 134 which co-operate with the stacks of napkins.

The operation of my improved machine in folding twelve-ply folded napkins of Z-shape final fold is as follows: The two strips of sheet material are fedfrom the rolls 35 over the folding plates 40 and between the feed rollers 4141, thereby producing folded strips which are continuously fed through the machine. The folded or doubled strips thus formed are guided from the rolls 41 between the cuttingrollers and 51, and are severed into sections by the cutting blade 52. The cutting blade cuts two articles from the two strips during each revolution of the cut-' ting rollers. From the cutting rollers the cut-off folded sections are fed downwardly the folding blade 55. The guide 85 and the feed belt 70 serve to properly position the folded articles in front of the folding blade 55. The articles thus formed are folded transverssly midway between the top and bottom edges thereof by the folding blade which is oscillated in proper timed relation to produce this result. The oscillating blade 55 forces the articles between the guides 85 and 86, thereby producing quarter-folded articles. After the articles have been quarter-folded, the same are guided in front of the second folding blade 56 by means of the feed belts 94 and the feed rollers 88. The quarterfolded articles, as produced by the folding blade 55, are most clearly shown in Figure 13, and the double-folded articles as they leave the cutting rolls are most clearly shown in Figure 12.

The articles are next folded by the blade 56, which co-operates with the guides 102 and 103, The oscillation of the blade 56 is so timed that it will fold over the lower onethird section ofeach article. as most clearly shown in Figure 16. .Thearticle as folded in Figure 16 is guided between the rolls 95 and 114 and fed in front-of the third folding blade 57. The rate of feed of the article and the time of oscillation of" the blade 57 is such that the blade will engage the folded article midway between the ends thereof and force the same between the guides 108 and 115, thus producing the folded article as illustratedin Figure 15, havinga one-third fold at the top of the same. thus produced is of the Z-fold type, thatis, having the end portions of the folded member disposed above and below the central portion, withthe free ends extending to opposite sides thereof. From the folding mechanism last described, the articles are fed between the vertical feed belts 123 and 124 in of the table, they will force outwardly the As will be evident, the article weights 133, the latter retaining the articles in their vertical stacked relation.

In order to adjust the machine to produce I folded articles of the sixteen-ply type, the

last two folding blades 56 and 57 are adjusted so as to change their timing with respect to the remaining folding blade 55. blade 56 is so timed as to retard the same with respect to the movement of the folding blade 55, so that the articles when presented in front of the folding blade 56 after leaving.

the pitmen of theoperating mechanism of 'these blades, and also by adjusting the crank arms 63 with respect to the clamping bolts which connect them to the discs 64, and, if

necessary, also adjusting the connecting links The foldingwith respect to the shafts on which the folding blades are mounted by means of the adjustable connection between the discs on the connecting links and these shafts.

The operation of my improved machine in producing the sixteen-folded-articles as shown in Figure 20 is as follows: The two strips of material are folded first between the rolls 41, as hereinbefore described. and are cut into sections by the cutting rolls 50 and 51, and quarter-folded by the first folding blade 55 in the manner hereinbefore dein Figure 15, and the dotted lines in Figure scribed, the operation of the mechanism thus far being the same. The quarter-folded articles are then fed in front of the folding blade 56, which, as hereinbefore pointed out,

is so timed as to fold the quarter-folded articles transversely midway between the top and bottom edges thereof, thereby producing the eight-ply folded article shown in Figure 16; The eight-ply folded article is then fed by means of the co-Joperating rollers 114 and belts 94 in front 'of the third folding blade 57. This blade is oscillated in timed relation so that it will engage the folded articles transversely midway between the front and rear edges thereof, thereby folding the same between the guides 108 and 115, so as to produce the sixteen-ply folded articles shown in Figure 20.

Referring to Figures 19 and 20, it is pointed out that Figure 19 shows in dotted lines the folds made in the blanks in producing the twelve-ply folded article shown speed of feeding of these rolls is increased.

This is effected by substituting interchange able gears for the gears on the shafts 46v and 42. In case a smaller size of article 1s to be produced, a larger gear is substituted for the driving gear 44 and a smaller gear for the gear 45.v If it is desired to produce larger napkins, the rate of speed of feed'of the rolls 41-41 is correspondingly increased by making the proper substitution of gears. Inasmuch as the cutting rolls are driven direct from the shaft 46, the timing of these rolls is not altered, but as the rate of feed of the rollers 41 is altered the size of the articles cut by the rollers 50 and 51 will be correspondingly changed. As will be evident, when the machine is altered to produce either articls of smaller or larger size,

the timing of the different folding blades 55,

56, and 57, and also the timing of the packer arms 119, must be correspondingly altered. The adjustable connections between the driving cranks and the pitmen, and between the connecting links and the oscillating shafts of these members, provide for this adjustment. i I

\VhileI. have herein shownand described I what Iconsider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention the same is mere- 'operating said folders, I

being adjustable to provide folded articles 'of either twelveor sixteen-ply thickness.

ly illustrative, and I contemplate all changes and modifications which come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In an, article folding machine,the combination with means for quarter-folding sheets ofadditional folding means for folding said quarter-folded articles transversely, said additional folding means being adjustable to provide folded articles of either twelveor sixteen-ply thickness.

2. In an article folding machine, the combination with means for quarter-folding sheets; of folding means for folding said quarter-folded articles transversely, and additional folding means for againfolding said transversely folded articles, each of said folding means delivering its foldedarticle successively to the next folding means during the folding operation.

3. In an article folding machine, the combination with means for quarter-folding sheets; of means for folding said quarterfolded articles transversely; and additional folding means for again folding said transversely folded articles, said transverse folding means and additional folding means being adjustable to produce folded articles of either twelveor sixteen-ply thickness.

4. In an article forming and foldingma chine, the combination with means for feeding a strip of material; of means for folding said strip lengthwise; means for cutting articles from said folded strip; means for folding said articles transversely to form quarter-folded articles; means for folding over a one-third section of said quarter-folded articles transversely; and means for again,

folding the remainder of each article along a line parallel to said/last fold to produce folded articles of twelve-plythickness.

In an article forming and foldingmachine, the combination with means for quarter-folding sheet articles; of folding means, including a moving folder for foldingsaid quarter-folded articles transversely; additional folding means, including a moving folder for again folding said articles on a line oarallel to said last named foldand means for operating said folders in timed relation, sai-d operating means being adjustable to time said folders to fold either twolveor sixteenply articles.

6. In a forming and folding machine, the combination with means for quarter-folding articles; of two successively operating folders for folding said quarter-folded articles along parallel lines; and driving means for 7. In a forming and folding machine, the combination with means for feeding a strip of material; of means for folding said strip lengthwise; means for cutting off sections of said driving means sixteen-ply thickness.

said strip; folding means including a reciproeating folding member for quarter-folding said articles; folding means including a second reciprocating folding member for folding said quarter-folded articles transversely; and folding meansincluding a reciprocating folder for folding said articles on allel to the last named fold. v

' 8. In a forming and folding machine, the combination with means for feeding a strip of material; of means for doubling said strip lengthwise; means for cutting off a section of 1 said strlp; folding means including 'an osc1l-.

folding said doubled articles'to produce'quarter-folded articles; folding'means including a second movable folder for folding said quarter-folded articles transversely; additional folding means including a movable folding member for folding said articles on a line parallel to saidlast named fold; and driving means for all of said folding members, said driving means being adjustable to alter the timing of said last two named movable folders to. provide folded articles-either of twelveor sixteen-ply thickness.

10. In a folding machine, the combination with means for feeding a plurality of strips 4 of material side by side, and doubling said strips; of mechanism operating on all of said doubled strips simultaneously for cutting a plurality of articles therefrom; andfolding means including a plurality of successively acting folding blades for folding said articles a plurality of times to provide articles of multi-ply thickness, each of said folding mechanisms operating on a plurality of said articles simultaneously.

q 11. In a folding and forming machine, the combination with means for feeding a strip of material at apredetermined rate of speed; of means for cutting articles from said strip of material at timed intervals; means. for

folding said article into quarters; additional folding means forfolding said quarter-folded articles transversely; and means for ad- I justing the rate of speed of feeding of said strip with respect to the timed intervals of operation of'the cutting means to cut articles of different lengths.

a line par- -terial from said folded ed articles; folding means for oubling said 12. In a forming and folding machine, the

combination with means for feeding a strip of material and folding the same lengthwise; of means for cutting definite lengths from said folded strip; means for again folding said lengths of material to provide quarterfolded articles; additional folding means for folding said quarter-folded articles along parallel lines; and driving means for operatively connecting said feeding and cutting means, said-driving means being adjustable to effect cutting articles of different sizes, and all of said folding means being correspondingly adjustable to fold said articles.

13. In an article forming and folding machine, the combination with means for feeding astrip of material and doubling the same; of means for cutting sai-d folded strip into definite lengths; means for folding said lengths transversely to produce quarter-folded articlesi additional means for folding said quarter-folded articles on parallel lines, said feeding means being adjustable to vary the length of the strip of material fed for each cutting operation, to produce articles of different sizes, and said additional foldlng means being adjustable to properly fold said articles of different sizes.

14. In a forming and folding machine, the combination with means for feeding a strip of material and folding the same lengthwise;

of rotary means having c -Operatmg cutting elements thereon, operated for cutting" definite lengths from said folded Strip to form folded articles; means for doubling each article cut from said folded strip; additional means for folding each article transversely; and interconnected driving means for operating said feeding means, rotary cutting means, doubling means, and folding means, said interconnected driving means being adjustable to adapt said rotary means,

doubling means and folding meansfor oper ation on articles of different sizes. 15. In an article folding machine, the combination with means for continuously feed-- ing a plurality of strips of material; of fixed folding means for doubling said strips longitudinally; continuously operating cutting means for simultaneously'cutting off sectionsfrom all of said folded strips; a reciprocating folder for transversely folding a plurality of said articles simultaneously, to produce quarter-folded articles; and additional, suc-. cessivelyoperated, folding members for. again folding said quarter-folded articles, said additional folding members each operatmg simultaneously on a plurality of folded articles.

16. In a forming and folding machine, the combination with means for feeding a strip of material and foldin the same lengthwise; of means for cuttin efinit'elengths of mastrip to roduce foldcut-off lengths to produce quarter-folded articles and additional folding means for operat'ing on said quarter-folded articlesto fold the same transversely, said additional folding means each including an oscillating folding blade and co-operating guide means between which said blades are movable.

17. In an article forming and folding machine, the combination with means for quarter-folding sheet articles, including an oscillating folding blade; of a shaft for oscillating said blade; means for transversely folding over a one-third section at each end of said quarter-folded articles to provide folded articles of twelve-ply thickness, said means including oscillating folding blades; shafts for oscillating said blades; and driving connections for each of said oscillating shafts, said driving connections being adjustable to alter the relative timing of the oscillating folding blades.

18. In an article forming and folding machine, the combination with means for continuously feeding a strip of material; of fixed folding means for doubling said strip lengthwise; rotary cutting means forsevering definite lengths from said doubled strip; an oscillating folding blade for transversely folding said double-folded articles to produce quarter-folded articles; a second oscillating folding blade for folding said quarterfol'ded articles transversely; a third oscillating folding blade for again folding said transversely folded articles; a shaft for oscillating each of said folding blades; a main drive shaft; and means driven from the main drive shaft for oscillating all of said folding blade operating shafts, said means including connections which are individually adjustable for each oscillating shaft, whereby the time of operation of said folding blades may be varied to produce folded articles of either twelveor sixteen-ply thickness.

19. In an article folding machine, the combination of co-operating folding roller means affording two biting'lines for the folding of sheets of material, a folder blade mounted to operate toward and from each biting line, the first blade and roller means acting to initiate and complete a fold in the sheet and deliverthe folded sheet in predetermined position with relation to the second biting line,-

and the second folding blade and roller means being adapted to initiate and complete a succeeding fold along the intended line.

20. In an article folding machine, the combination of co-operating folding roller means affording three biting lines for the folding of sheets of material, a folder blade mounted to operate toward and from each biting line, the first blade and roller means acting to initiate and complete a fold across the middle of the sheet and deliver the folded sheet in position with respect to the second biting line to fold a one-third section of the sheet thus the folding of the one-third section last referred to.

21. In an article foldin machine,v the combination of co-operating olding roller means affording three biting lines for the folding of sheets of material, a folder blade mounted to operate toward and from each biting line, the first blade and roller means acting to initiate and complete a fold across the middle of the sheet and deliver the folded sheet in position with respect to the second biting lin'e to fold a one-third section of the sheet thus j presented, and the second folder blade and roller means acting'to initiate and complete said one-third fold and present the sheet thus folded to the third biting line in position to fold a second one-third section corresponding to the first folded one-third section, and the third folding blade and folding roller means being adapted to initiate and complete the folding of the one-third section last referred to, one of the rollers of the roller means being a constituent in aflording the second and third biting lines.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th day of March, 1928.

SAMUEL J. CAMPBELL. 

